Sound Tigers Player Chaser

Courtesy: SoundTigers.com

Release: 07/03/2018

Related Links

Updated: August 8, 2018 - 11:00 a.m.

For the hockey operations department of a professional team, the off-season is just as important as the six months of the regular season – if not more-so. It's the time of year when front office personnel begin the process of roster construction and fans find out the answer to their favorite off-season question: “Is [favorite player] coming back next year?”

It can take quite a while to explain all of the factors that go into whether a player returns from season to season, but we'll do our best to keep you up to date this summer. Below is a list of players who completed the 2017-18 campaign with the Sound Tigers (and some others) and where they stand heading into the 2018-19 season.

Before getting started, keep in mind AHL rosters have the potential to change considerably from year to year. For instance, only 16 players who appeared in at least 10 games with Bridgeport during the 2016-17 season returned last year.

Now for what you came for. Keep in mind that many of the players in the “Signed for 2017-18” category are signed by the New York Islanders (NHL) and not specifically Bridgeport. They will have a chance to make the big club in training camp. In addition, there are players on this list that may not stay with the Sound Tigers after training camp. Players can be assigned to the ECHL, European teams, or reassigned to their junior club in some cases.

A restricted free agent usually means it's up to the Islanders whether or not to bring these players back. Players either re-sign with their NHL team from the previous season or become an unrestricted free agent.

Restricted Free Agents

---

Unrestricted free agents are free to sign with any team in the NHL, AHL or anywhere else in the world.

Unrestricted Free Agents

F Casey Bailey

F Stephen Gionta

F Kellen Jones - Signed with Vasterviks IK (Allsvenskan) on 7/9/18

F Matt Lane - Signed with Milwaukee (AHL) on 8/8/18

F Kyle Schempp - Signed with the Idaho Steelheads (ECHL) on 7/31/18

D Andre Benoit - Under contract with Columbus (NHL) in 2017-18

D Patrick Cullity

D Kane Lafranchise - Retired

G Kristers Gudlevskis - Signed with Dinamo Riga (KHL) on 6/21/18

All NHL contracts run through June 30, which means no team other than the Islanders could sign these players before July 1. All AHL contracts also run through June 30 and those players can sign with any NHL club at any point, however they could not sign with an AHL team (aside from Bridgeport) until July 1.